Countrified sound comes Upstairs to Oak Bay

A bunch of guys who have a fantastic time, and a few years’ experience playing together, promise a lively time at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre’s Upstairs Lounge Friday.

Matt Patershuk and The Craftsmen plan to play primarily from his new album Same as I Have Ever Been with a couple throwbacks to Outside The Lights of Town (nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award) and I Was So Fond of You.

“You struggle to afford to pay three other people on tour but it’s something I really strive to be able to do. It’s a lot more fun, it offers more things you can offer the audience in volume and tone.”

Juno award winning producer and multi-instrumentalist, Steve Dawson produced all three albums, and is part of the band for the Nov. 24 show. Jeremy Holmes and Liam MacDonald round out The Craftsmen.

“All three of those guys have been good enough to record with me at some point,” the B.C.-born musician says.

The gang has headed out each weekend this fall, reaching out from his home in northwest Alberta and culminate

“We’ve tried with this record to do a series of weekend shows to round out a fall tour promoting the album. Saturday they head for Vancouver in a quick double-header.

“I try not to complain about it because I love it and it’s a privilege to have anybody show up at all,” he says with a laugh.

For their first time in Victoria he’s confident the audience will bring “an open set of ears and the willingness to have a good time.”

“The thing I really enjoy about performing is having a sort of conversation with the people there to listen,” he says. “You guys have a great musical community there.”

Patershuk performed at the Vancouver Island MusicFest in Comox Valley this summer.

“I really enjoyed it out there, and got to see Emmylou Harris which was a bucket list item.”

Matt Patershuk and The Craftsmen perform Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Upstairs Lounge at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre. Tickets are $20 available at the centre, 1975 Bee Street or online at beaconridgeproductions.com.